Hi all I was wondering if incoming families have been informed about orientation dates yet? My son is making some summer plans and we were unsure about those dates. He’s 90% sure that he’s going to accept but we are all having some financial anxiety related to the price tag and he hasn’t accepted yet. TIA
Students admitted to the fall semester participate in Welcome Trojans Summer Orientation, with sessions taking place from late May to the end of July. You will receive an email invitation to Welcome Trojans Orientation once they receive your intent to enroll and your commitment deposit.
This is great information. Are the sessions 1 day or more?
Thanks!
My daughter did and it was a perfect match! She’s a sophomore now and would’ve continued rooming with her, but she’s in Hong Kong her sophomore year. They became great friends! It helps to be honest when answering the lifestyle questions.
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You may want to look at the various links here…
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I know this isn’t the point of the original post, but can anyone speak to this anxiety? After the fun of acceptance has worn off, I think we all (including my S23) are having some real doubts about paying full price for USC. My son has been admitted to his state flagship which is a fantastic school and great for his major, and would result in no financial strain (for us) and reasonable debt (for him). Obviously, nobody can make this decision except us/him, but do any USC parents that have strained financially for this school have thoughts about this? If my S23 chooses USC, it would be a huge financial stretch for all of us. I guess we’re all starting to think it’s probably not worth it.
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My sophomore son filled out the online roommate match and it didn’t work out, since he and his roommate were virtual opposites. He met a guy in one of his classes and became friends, and this boy had an empty bed in his suite, so my son switched to room with him. About a month after school starts there is an official room switch date, and many do switch, so if it doesn’t work out there are options to move. This boy was his roommate this year and he will be rooming with him again next year, so it worked out.
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Your post seems to indicate the likely best decision… to seek out a college selection that does not in fact establish a major financial strain for your family. And that is completely valid. USC’s financial aid offerings were such that my family could afford to send both daughters to USC, including one year when both were in attendance. But many families simply cannot make the numbers work or justify the expenditure. In recent cycles, the USC yield rate has hovered around 40%. So, roughly 4800 of the circa 8100 admitted to USC for the fall this year will be choosing to enroll elsewhere. And that financial component will likely be among the main factors for electing to pass on USC for a large number of those 4800 or so. I would recommend going with your instinct. If it seems like a huge financial stretch, that seems justification enough to move on. Hopefully your son finds his path to greatness elsewhere. Good luck to him…
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This is such a kind response, and I’m happy to report that my son seems like he is being really thoughtful about this decision. He’s currently at the USC admitted students day and having a great time, but I’m impressed by the things he’s taking into consideration. I keep telling him that money is only one factor among many, and he gets that, but I’m happy that he’s being so thoughtful while also enjoying a fun day of good food, a great tour, a band concert, etc! It seems like he is having such a great visit! Next stop, he is visiting his brother in Claremont, but I feel happy that he got enough information from his visit to USC that he can make an informed decision!
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I’m sure there will be several similar articles released in the next month or so.
There were a couple of comments that I found interesting.
This admission cycle is the first for USC’s Early Action (E.A.) option, which gives applicants the opportunity to complete the process by Nov. 1. Of this year’s admitted students, 55% chose the E.A. option.
While it does not significantly improve an applicant’s chance of admission, E.A. is clearly attractive for many students,” Brunold said. “We know that it drove up some of the application volume, but not all of it. The applicant pool at USC has been increasing steadily over time.”
The following contains attributes that USC might be looking for in potential students.
“Academically, these are high achievers,” Brunold said. “Academic strength is an element of the process. But we also note things like persistence, interest in community, an interest in other people’s perspectives, other cultures and an openness to learning new things. Those characteristics, along with a strong work ethic and passion, are important to us, and they make us optimistic about this fall’s class. These are students with great ideas who are motivated to solve the world’s problems.”
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You’re welcome. So glad to hear it.
Visited USC (Expore USC). We liked the area and campus very much. It was a short trip, visited Venice Beach (beautiful, boardwalk, lunch at Figtree) , The Grove (shopping area + Original Farmers Market). Stayed at USC Hotel, ate dinner at Thai by Trio (nice restaurant, walkable from Hotel), had coffee at Dulce Cafe (USC Village - nice!).
Some things about Explore USC that are not obvious from the agenda they send:
- they do serve a nice breakfast at check in
- a faculty member eats lunch with you. He/She will generally offer the student a chance to attend his/her class. You can do it as long as you are in the area on the class day.
- Students eat lunch at dining hall
- Parents have a sit down lunch. About 8 parents + one faculty per table
- Bus tour/walking tour does not take you to USC Village. So plan to do it on your own.
Still deciding, but D23 is leaning toward UT Austin Business Honors (in state option). Good luck and good times to all. Cheers!
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Sounds like you had a full visit even if short. Glad you got to experience it regardless of your decision, so you don’t feel like you missed something later. Appreciate the input - maybe they leave off some details to pleasantly surprise folks, I really enjoyed the parent/faculty lunch, but would be good to know about breakfast in advance so you are not eating the bad hotel breakfast. 
You have another good option and I know she will do well and get everything she can out of her education, wherever it is. Let us know the final final, but I have enjoyed hearing your perspectives and going through the process with you. Wishing your daughter and fam the best of everything going forward!
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Has anyone who applied for tuition exchange at USC received notification? Like so many, USC is my daughter’s top choice but unaffordable unless she receives the tuition exchange award. With USC still in play, it’s been challenging to get her to focus on the affordable Plan B options. Even if it’s bad news, hoping USC gives us that moment of clarity soon as the clock is ticking loudly…
What is tution exchange?. USC is also my daghters first choice but the tution is really high
We tried to appeal the financial aid decision but it was denied.
It’s a benefit offered to faculty/staff at a network of 600+ colleges/universities. Staff’s dependents can apply for a discounted rate of tuition at participating schools. Most schools give out only a limited number of tuition exchange awards and it is very competitive.
Sorry to hear that your daughter’s F/A appeal was denied.
All the best to her wherever she lands!
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Excellent recap. Thanks for providing. Your tour of the area emulated well our experiences each trip out there from Florida. Way to maximize your time there… impressive!
And best of luck regarding her final decision. No bad option among those two.
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My daughter committed today and now I have scheduling questions! 
After going back and forth numerous times, she decided she does need a/c and put in for McCarthy. In the residence guide, it says McCarthy moves in the 12th - 14th. Can she move in anytime in this range or will she be assigned a specific time? My other daughter has a mandatory parent/child event in SF on the 13th, so we’ll be going back and forth again. We’d love to move her in the 12th, come home, and then fly back down for convocation. Does anyone know if this is doable and if we’d be missing anything. Thanks as always. We are SO excited!
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Congratulations!
She moves in on her scheduled day. It is a well oiled machine - you pull your car up behind McCarthy and empty everything into large bins. As she moves it up to her room, you move your car to a parking lot down the street. You have all day to help her move in (if you/she want). The dorm often has evening events and the departments sometimes hold a parent reception. My understanding, is that they do it to pull the parents away from the students.
If I recall correctly, Housing does take requests for move in dates. They will even let her move in early for a fee. I would contact them now and find out when (and how) they want her to request a specific date.
Housing Services Office (213) 740-2546 from 8:30AM to 5:00PM, Monday-Friday.
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